How Hurricane Sandy Slapped the Sarcasm Out of Twitter — Twitter is often a caldron of sarcasm, much of it funny, little of it useful. But as a social medium based on short-burst communication, Twitter can change during large events — users talk about “watching” the spectacle unfold across their screens.

Facebook tests Timeline layout with single column of posts — Facebook is testing a new format for user Timelines, which puts all posts in a single column on the left and any activity modules in a narrower column on the right. — This layout addresses one of the common complaints about the new profile …

Marissa Mayer Makes a Media Deal — The Marissa Mayer messaging is that Yahoo's new CEO is about product, not media. But that doesn't mean she's shutting down everything her predecessor Ross Levinsohn was working on. — Example: Yahoo has struck a deal with Wenner Media …

Asustek: Nexus 7 Sales Approaching 1 million a Month — Sales of Google Inc. 's Nexus 7, made by Taiwan's Asustek Computer Inc. , are closing in on 1 million units a month, the Taiwanese maker revealed. — The 7-inch tablet has created a big buzz this year with its low starting price of US$199 …

Intel working on 48-core chip for smartphones, tablets — A smartphone with 48 cores could change our concept of what it is and what it does — Intel researchers are working on a 48-core processor for smartphones and tablets but it could be five to 10 years before it hits the market.

Stolen cellphone databases switched on in US — U.S. cellphone carriers took a major step on Wednesday toward curbing the rising number of smartphone thefts with the introduction of databases that will block stolen phones from being used on domestic networks.

RIM: More than 50 carriers testing BlackBerry 10 now — The company reiterated that it was on track for the launch of its BlackBerry 10 phones in the first quarter. — Research in Motion said today that more than 50 carriers are testing its BlackBerry 10 platform, a critical step to getting …

Reimagining the “Other” Windows — There has never been a more exciting time to be a developer. Today at Microsoft's Build conference, I had the opportunity to speak to thousands of developers who are key to Microsoft's goal of reimagining Windows. These are the people who are writing …

Microsoft sued for infringing patent on Live Tiles — The trolls rise to the Surface — Microsoft's been touting its Live Tiles concept ever since Windows Phone 7 launched two years ago, but the launch of Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and particularly the Surface tablets appear to have given …